At court, the dinner spent next to Jona and her father had gone well, conversation was kept neutral and strayed away from entering into politics. It was neither good nor bad and Ava could handle that for once. She appreciated the nights that went according to plan, without too much emotion to overwhelm her. After dinner, before her father retired from court for the evening, she pulled him aside to request a meeting for the following sun. It was granted to her and set for early in the morning.

It was far earlier than she would have preferred to wake up, given she was usually lingering around court most nights out of duty and commands from her mother to get closer to Ammyrett. But at the end of it all, she had been granted a meeting without much hassle so she would have to take the small win. Oceane had dropped by to help her and as soon as the last pin was put on her head and her wig was slipped on, she abandoned the cause and crawled into Ava's bed for a nap. Oceane had made constant jokes about never having an easier job and Ava believed it.

Oceane only really helped with dressing her, both because Ava was forced to ask for help to get into the often complicated garments and because Oceane loved to help her dress up. Beyond that, Oceane's chambermaid duties went undone. More because Ava would not conceivably ask for her to perform any of the duties that a chambermaid would. If her time at the estate could serve as a vacation for Oceane after cycles in prison, then Ava would accommodate that.

Ava often cleaned her room, organized her wardrobe, and did most of the upkeep of her chambers by herself. It was something she was never allowed to do; once she had a room on the ship, it was a habit she had grown fond of. At the estate, she kept up the routine of cleaning she had formed and it doubled as a form of control. It was the one thing she could do to impact her own life, the one thing that no one else had a say in. It brought some sense of normalcy to everything too. Something that she felt in her gut would be sorely lacking soon.

Ava had Arnelo escort her to her father's office as soon as she was ready and no one was there yet, his office wasn't locked and there were no guards posted outside so she slipped inside. She closed the door behind her, leaving Arnelo outside as she stepped into the room with tall ceilings that echoed her footsteps. She had never spent much time in her father's office; it was always more of an in-and-out affair. She would get in trouble, be dragged to his office, he would deliver a lecture, and she would be sent off. But even those times were sporadic. Most of her punishment was handed down by her mother and Ivon who acted as his proxy. Except Ivon was always much ruder than her father.

She took the time to soak in the magnitude of the room, being alone in it for the first time. As she peeked through the books, they all seemed rather mundane. All approved, nothing scandalous or against the Baethan code. Everything that was on display looked to be carefully curated to not clue anyone in on Umbar Vaith. Colors were muted, no trophies were on display, and all that was visible were possessions that an upstanding, and upscale citizen of Baethos would have. The door opened behind her and she turned to see her father walk in.

"Good morning, Avery. Apologies, I was not aware that you had come in so early. I was going to send for you," he said as he took a seat and motioned her to also sit.

She followed the command, "I've only been here for a few minutes. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me."

"Why have you requested an audience?"

"To speak about reforms. You said that we could start talking about it."

"Yestersun."

He let that comment hang in the air, almost like an indirect admonishment for her enthusiasm and gall.

"Well, the longer we wait on reforms, the longer it will take to remedy what is going on and reach both of our goals," Ava argued and pulled a small booklet with notes from her dress, "I have been up most of the night thinking of what to do first."

"Poverty relief is what you have been pushing for, as of late," he hummed and sat back, not looking like he was going to take the lead on the conversation, "is that your leading policy? Have you thought of how the sequence of what we roll out will affect acceptance in society?"

"Yes, right. Uh," Ava stumbled for a second, looking down at her notes to make sense of how to speak with her father about politics.

She had done so before but from a position of less power than she now had. She was her father's equal– or as close to equals as one could get with someone like him. She had to seem smart and confident and she knew what she was talking about. She had held her own against pirates that studied things of this sort and she had been fine.

She cleared her throat and continued, "First, we need to have a purpose, an intention, a foundation of values we can get people to rally behind so that the individual points on our agenda are less debated."

"And this shared purpose?

"A call for peace and prosperity. But prosperity can only come from peace. Rewards will only come to Baethos if the world is not facing a threat. Rebellion means war and people don't want war, they don't want to die, or their families to die. But many of the people that would join the rebellion already see death in their lives regularly. Whether because they don't have the resources to survive or because The Center is killing them," Ava spoke passionately and her chest was filled with heaviness as she pictured what she had witnessed herself.

Her father was no different from usual, unfazed. A neutral expression, bordering interest but not quite. She had to tamper down her instinct to inject her proposal with so much emotion, her father wasn't a pirate. Passion had no appeal in the halls of a nobleman.

"The pirate plague is gone, the underworld is in hiding, and we need peace and advancement before the classification ends so the next one can begin prosperously. The war has been fought, the austerity measures have paid off, and the harsh patrolling and invasion into people's lives can end. We need to refocus on making sure to help the people of Baethos now that they have been protected. This is our message. That is how we sell it to the people. To get it out, we plant essays and published works agreeing with the policies intended to help Baethans. We can circulate professional analysis which shows that in the past, progressive stances have been good for business and prosperity. That is for upper society."

"The same story, two different angles. Appeal to the money by guaranteeing them more. Appeal to the poor by guaranteeing less suffering," her father said and she nodded in confirmation, "That way, a consensus emerges."

"And to put word and idea to action, we need to lead by example. The whispers and the writing will raise the need for action on poverty and you will step up to that call. Be the one that takes the first step and proves it is successful."

"Will it be successful, is the question?"

"You have forced things that by all means would have failed and squashed things that would have succeeded. If you want something to be successful, I sense you have that power," Ava challenged and he broke his neutrality by laughing a bit.

"And what is the action I must take to achieve the relief you seek," he asked.

"Charity, money, working with the people on what they need rather than telling them what they need. Invest some money into this cause. Buying materials to help withstand winter, sending out builders to help use those materials, allowing them to grow crops in their houses which should have never been banned; the list is endless," Ava stood up walking to his drinks and pouring them each one.

It was early but she was thirsty and hard liquor would have to do.

"Once you've taken action, urge others to do it too. When people complain about not having the money, announce tax reform. If they prove they have helped their dominion, they get a tax break and will not have to pay their full taxes to the houses lording over them," Ava explained as she walked back the glasses, handing him one.

"Nobles will not be happy about that," he shook his head, "which means The Council will never approve that reform."

"That is what the academic and whisper campaign is for. Nobles will have pushback sure, but it will be lessened if people are convinced that not doing so would result in rebellion," Ava argued, "further, they will line up to accept the tax reform if it means they are better in the eyes of the classifiers. Classifiers will look down on those that do not conform to The Council's mission. If The Council's mission is peace and prosperity, and fewer taxes going to the rich is a way to get there, then who are nobles to stand in the way of that?"

"I disagree that a narrative like that will work as well as you hope it will."

"I have already planted the seeds. Let me tend to the garden. Once people are stirring about change, you take action and propose that same model for greater and lesser houses. They do all the work and in return, nobles get a little less at the end of the length," Ava continued to sell her plan. She knew how to be stubborn and her plan was not one she was easily walking away from.

"Taking away a noble's money is on their list of things they hate happening," he picked up the drink that had been placed in front of him and took a sip.

"And losing power is at the top of that list. Even if some question the fact that rebellion looms and they are threatened to be unseated, it is easy to convince them to be threatened."

"I don't want to sell weakness and division, you are going off the message you proposed," he reminded with a raised eyebrow.

"Right, I apologize," Ava nodded, "but you can still trigger their insecurity over their position in society if you frame it as them standing in the way of peace and prosperity, a mission set forth by you and The Council."

"And if it doesn't work? If they refuse to pass those policies?"

"If it doesn't work, then we stop my plan and you can continue to rely on Killian and Ivon for misguided, one-sided, short-sighted advice," she snapped back.

"You are being impudent, Avery."

"I apologize," she reigned it in with a slight bow of her head and then recovered, "let me take the next cycle to lay the groundwork. I will continue to see it to that the loungehouse ladies absorb the progressive rhetoric. We will let it spread amongst the lower-status last namers. Get higher society interested– which they already are. The whispers and empathy will spread and soon people will want to help, people will want to join in even if it's for the wrong reasons."

He was silent for a minute, it was awful to sit through. She could feel her heart beating and she was at the edge of her seat but her father had no such urgency or panic about him. He nodded slowly, "Continue to lay the groundwork. I will work with Ivon to prepare a policy for reform that is beneficial for nobles too. Perhaps we may cut their fee to The Center by a certain percentage so the tax breaks to Greater and lesser houses won't affect finances too much."

Ava tried not to act too excited that the meeting had gone successfully, "So, it's happening?"

"We will attempt it," he confirmed with a nod, "good thinking, Avery."

"Oh," Ava smiled a bit, "thank you..."

"That is all," he opened his drawer and pulled out parchment, "do make an effort to go see your mother, please. She needs to be on our side for this and I would like you to make those inroads with her. Let her know that when you go skrims, the women of the court are invited and welcomed."

"I won't be going to skrims any longer," Ava shook her head, "but I was planning on proposing a time to create children's clothing to send to the skrims. They can join in on that."

"Why won't you be going there any longer?"

"Because I am not here to exploit those who have nothing just so I can advance my cause," Ava argued, "I'm not here to parade their oppressors through the streets just to prove a point. That doesn't help them in any way."

"You will be going to the skrims at least two or three times with these women before the reforms pass. These are not policies that will be implemented without having those of higher society experience that poverty in person. It gives us more leverage and cushion if the wives of the men going against me are pushing for change," he argued right back and Ava's growing excitement over her new situation was replaced with dread.

Inside, she knew that her father would push her to do things she might not have wanted to. Inside, she knew that she would have to bend in areas she preferred to hold firm in. Inside, she knew it would not be out of goodness that her father wanted to help and his approaches would not be in good faith either. But it still hit her gut when she was faced with her first obstacle. She nodded but was not ready to be dismissed just yet.

"Can I ask something?"

"Please."

"Going after the pirates wasn't the best idea. There were no guarantees. Everything was shifting. The underworld against The Center, not an ideal war to wage," Ava stated, "why'd you do it then?"

"It was not my idea."

"But you were the face of it. You championed it."

"I made some initial moves to benefit our estate and our name. I did not want it to expand past that. But politics, more so than desire, often dictates actions taken," her father stood up and took both of their glasses back to the drink cart.

"I am not entirely following," she admitted, also standing up.

"Perhaps you will understand in time," he made another vague statement and waved his hand as he faced her, "you may go. I need to see your mother and call for Ivon."

She knew she would get no more answers. Even though he wasn't paying attention, she still gave a small curtsy and then walked out of the room.

—--

Ava was floating with just her head above water in her bathing pool, waiting for the temperature to rise. She had asked for her bath to be adjusted to be hotter, in need of soaking and easing her bones. Viv was at the edge of the pool, with her feet in it, looking down at her notebook.

"In three suns' time, there is an event held by a lesser house that your father has volunteered you and Killian to attend. It is a half's sun journey so you will leave for the event the morning of and travel overnight back here," Viv explained her schedule.

Ava tried to pay attention but all she could pay attention to was her back and her feet, a bit of her shoulder, and her ribs. Her whole body hurt and it wasn't since she first started working out with Theo that she had been in that much pain. This time the pain she felt was different; it was visceral, it wasn't in her muscles it was deep in her bones. Her feet felt like they would never be free from the constant throb and pinch ever again.

"In half a cycle, there is a-"

Ava dunked herself underwater, refusing to listen to her endless tasks for another second. It had been a cycle since she had met with her father and discussed a plan forward and she had not seen a moment of relaxation since then. She had gotten back from her third trip to the skrims in a cycle and all she wanted was an hour to bathe without thinking about what came next. She felt spent, empty, and like a fraction of herself. At times, she didn't even feel in control of her own body and actions. It was like she was peering through her eyes as windows but it was someone else that was puppetting her.

But it was all paying off. Things were moving in the way they had planned. Her father was working on the political side of reforms and Ava was focused on anchoring the need within Baethos. A daunting task that was unfolding at a steady pace nonetheless.

She came up for air and Viv fixed her with a shake of her head, "Ready to pay attention?"

"No," she approached the edge of the pool, "this is the only place I find peace and you are always here to interrupt it."

"How was the meeting with your father this morning? You rushed off to the skrims and I couldn't catch you," Viv put her notebook aside and looked down at Ava as she leaned over the side.

"He told me what we already know. We only need five votes to pass a temporary policy and we have most of those already. This isn't the hard part. Seven is what we need for a permanent policy. Nothing is set in stone until we get to The Center, meet with The Council, and get the seven votes," Ava shrugged, "the same thing he's been saying all cycle."

"I think he says it more for Killian's sake than yours," she laughed.

"He is moronic," Ava scoffed, "an unthinking, witless waste of space and if it wouldn't get me hung on the other side of a noose I would kill him."

"Can't keep saying that, people will tell him and that won't go over well," Viv scolded but her smile gave away that she was entertained.

"I'll tell him to his face," Ava challenged, "it's not a joke. I am not joking. I want him to die a gruesome death at my hands."

"This is why you continue to get locked out of conversations," Viv shook her head with a sigh, "can you be logical? And focused? And not act this way about very real threats?"

"You are lecturing me over a joke."

"You said it wasn't a joke. Your words have consequences here," Viv said then frowned, "gods. I am like Xyra."

"It hurts to be faced with the truth," Ava teased and backed away from the ledge, "can you leave me alone for just a half hour? Let me be in silent solitude."

"Sure, I have to go see Jona anyway. I'll come to get you when you need to start getting ready," Viv stood up.

Ava didn't wait to see her leave, she submerged herself once again and let the water that had begun to heat up calm her down. A lot was going on and she was nearing a cliff of desperation. She hoped it was all worth it and her position of power could help whatever stirrings of overthrowing The Center were spoken about.

Ava was counting down the suns until Brandon Cooker arrived. She had confirmed he had been coming with her mother and she was itching to speak to him.

Her father had pushed her already with the skrims and she didn't know how much else she would be forced to compromise on, probably too much. If she was at least compromising knowing other people were working on a longer-term solution, it would make it worth it. Worth the physical pain. Worth the emotional hurt.

Worth the isolation.

She had people around but the past cycle had felt like there was no one. Maybe it was by design and her father wanted to keep her away from others or it was just the nature of political duties, it didn't matter which one. She spent meaningless time with Jona which provided some relief from the demands of the court, of her father, and of her mother. Viv had been on lease to her father and only made herself seen to boss Ava around, never for anything social. Ava's constant charade with Jona, being at court, and meeting with her father to write letters– or watch them be written– was taking up too much time to spend with Oceane and Mallory. The solitude only compounded all the negativity she had been feeling.

When her lungs screamed at her, she came to the surface and took a deep breath. She felt a warmth wash over her as oxygen flowed back into her veins. She had to hurry and decompress in the little time she had before court that evening. She had graduated from occasionally attending court a few cycles before to being a staple at the estate. She was hosting dinners and taking on a greater role. The events she attended and speeches she gave were nothing major but it was still work she didn't want to put in.

Even though she chose to do everything, even though things could be worse, and even though she felt she had some support, she still found herself crying almost every night. Her comfort had been the bathing room. An empty, large room with warm water waiting for her was all she needed to let it pour out at night. She couldn't tell the difference between stress and sorrow but she was getting good at living with it. Not so much ignoring it, but rather coping with it. No tears could come to her then, however. Her mind was quickly flooded with thoughts of the work still to come. They were on the cusp of success and her father was soon to announce action.

Before long, Viv had come back to press her to get dressed and ready for court. Against every fiber of her will, she got out of the water and faced her reality.

—-----

It had been a cycle and a half since her father had agreed to pursue action and policies aimed at poverty relief and in that time, they had made it the topic of conversation around Baethos. Letters and news sent by raven and pigeons had traveled and it was like a fashion staple that had swept Baethos, everyone was talking about poverty and poverty relief. Most that took interest, wanted to be a part of the change. Which was good for them, because it meant less having to exert power to get what they wanted.

Which also meant they had more of that power to exert when tougher policies had to pass. But she wasn't trying to think too far ahead. She needed to celebrate what she had achieved so far. It had taken a cycle and a half of hard work but Ava was standing next to her father in the Great Hall, listening to him deliver an address to the people of Aubermasse about his work and the plan for the rest of Baethos. A bit of pride was lurking in the shadows but she pushed that feeling away, she had bent on her morals and goals to get there.

"I want to thank the hardworking ladies of Aubermasse, of the court, and of Baethos for championing this cause and calling attention to the inequities that needed to be solved. You have helped so many and it is your sacrifice that got us here so quickly," her father projected his voice, and Ava finally tuned in.

"At their call for help, the Vaith house has changed the lives of thousands in the skrims and we hope to have set the example for greater and lesser houses to do the same. If your choice is to help, then in return your pockets will be lined with a bit of extra coin since your taxes to your lords will diminish. This is a policy I aim to make permanent in my next Council meeting."

There were cheers and her father had captivated the audience. His cadence was comforting, a perfect pace, and his smile was inviting and deceptive.

"But of course, I urge the houses of Baethos to care for your brethren that have less than you not because it will bring you coin but because it is the correct thing to do to form a stronger Baethos. For peace and prosperity to reign."

Ava drowned out the deafening roars that emitted from the audience and focused on someone who looked like they were from the skrims, standing in the middle of the crowd. Ava locked eyes with them. They looked stone-faced, not happy but not hostile either. She didn't pull her gaze away and neither did they. It almost disturbed her, she couldn't read them and she desperately wanted to.

She got lost in their silent exchange, and before long the crowd around the person was shifting. She broke their gaze for one moment to look at the others on the balcony stepping off and when she looked back at the crowd they were gone. Ava backed away slowly and finally pulled her gaze away when she was close to the exit of the balcony.

Once shielded from the eyes of the commoners, her family that was in attendance took a moment to congratulate her father and Killian. Most of them there were not too interested, Penelope, Griselda, her aunt Lorraine, and the younger kids were more than happy to flee the scene as soon as it was appropriate. Killian lingered for a bit longer, waiting for praise from their father that he never received. He walked off after sharing an exchange with their mother.

Her mother turned to her and looked her up and down then gave her a tight nod before following her son down the hall. Ava exhaled and took a moment to compose herself while her father was still speaking to Ivon. Her mother had once again regained her outward contempt for Ava. Even though they were not shouting it from the roof of the estate, it was clear to anyone who paid attention that it was Ava helping her father, not Killian.

Ava's mother had taken issue with it. Not only was Ava back to her scheming, but she was doing her duties as a noblewoman not out of respect for the tradition but for political gain. Worse, Ava was doing it at the expense of Killian's legitimacy and hold on to the title of their father. She was his firstborn son and Ava could only imagine how upset it made her that she had a glimmer of hope that her pride and joy would be carrying on the Vaith name only for the path to be shadowed by Ava's involvement. Grant and Ulises were not her sons, she had always lived life knowing there would be little chance Killian or any of her sons to take on the head of the household but that had changed for a brief moment.

Ava almost felt invigorated by her reaction. She had no use or want for her father's title, that would be a moot point. The Center would soon be a thing of the past. But if she were to get it over Killian, if reforms for women ever passed, she would happily accept it just to piss off her mother and Killian. She was pulled from her stewing by her father putting a hand on her shoulder as he led her down the hallway.

"You have put in a lot of work, Avery," he acknowledged as they walked and he squeezed her shoulder, "you should be proud of yourself. You've seen your plans to fruition."

"Thank you for allowing me to prove myself," she nodded and pulled away from him as subtly as she could, "I made plans with Mallory, I should go see her before she gets fussy. You know how she is."

"I do not, actually," he smiled a bit, "Mallory is nothing but respectful and composed when she is around me."

"Well, you don't make it easy to be anything but well-behaved around you," she retorted.

"Yet you always managed to work through the difficulty of it," he teased and then bowed slightly, "goodnight. I will see you tomorrow first thing."

"I will await for you to send for me," she returned the slight bow and made her way toward her floor.

Her heels echoed against the stone and her feet ached with every step. Soon after she parted ways with her father, Viv found her way next to Ava.

"You looked nice up there. Very regal. Living up to your name, princess," Viv complimented.

"Can you get to the point? I don't have the patience to deal with the likes of you today," Ava rolled her eyes, only half joking.

"When you give me a nasty attitude, it only fuels me to be more of a pain," Viv laughed as she stepped in front of Ava and forced her to stop.

Ava huffed and looked up at her, "Do you mind? I am going to drink my mind into silence with my friend and my sister and I want to get on with it already."

"Ouch. No invitation?" Viv smirked a bit, trying her patience. She reached behind her and pulled out a small book, "As promised, I have delivered your reward for achieving your milestone."

Ava furrowed her brow and took the book into her hand. She frowned as she flipped it over, inspecting it. She looked up at Viv with a shake of her head.

"There's not even a title," Ava tried to hand the book back.

"This is the reaction I get when I'm nice and considerate and you wonder why I never display kindness," Viv chuckled and crossed her arms, rejecting the book being given back to her, "and before you act ungrateful and ask where the rest are, they are in your room. All five of them, this is a surprise sixth one."

"What is it?"

"Pure, filthy smut," Viv laughed and Ava's eyes widened as she looked inside.

"Are you serious?"

"I wouldn't lie about fine literature like this," Viv opened the page, "this has been a popular book that's gone around the renouncer scene as of late. It's pretty good."

Ava looked around and quickly tucked it in her dress then laughed, "Why?"

"To help you get by after a stressful cycle. Couldn't just leave it in your room, even wrapped up like the others," Viv tilted Ava's head up to face her and Ava pulled her chin away and shoved Viv away a bit but that only served to push Viv closer. She stepped even closer than she had been before, "proud of you, princess."

"Proud enough to ease up on me a little? Maybe take some eyes off me," Ava proposed with a raise of her eyebrow, playing at Viv's game and adjusting her shirt for her.

"Not until the flames of every god's hell are quenched," Viv took a step back, "I'll let you get to your gaggle of gossips. Goodnight, Avery."

"If the books aren't up to my standard, I will be complaining," Ava said and spun to watch Viv leave down the opposite way she was headed.

"I'm not worried. I know you'll enjoy all of them," Viv called back without turning around and Ava shook her head, not suppressing the grin that was on her face the whole walk back to the apartment.

—--

"What will any of this bring us for the next classification? Nothing! No money or power," Killian yelled.

"You can sit there and argue with me all you want Killian, but these policies are no longer in our hands. There are very real and very vocal calls from people all over Aubermasse and Baethos calling for change," Ava challenged, crossing her arms and sitting back against her chair, in front of her father's desk, "There is more than one way to secure our seat come the next classification, a campaign of bloodshed is needless."

Killian was standing at the edge of the desk, displaying much less decorum than she was. It wasn't easy to not give in to Killian's bait but she would not make a fool of herself in front of her father. Not when composure had gotten her that far already. Her father hated anger, he hated strong emotion and he certainly hated the way Killian's face was red and his neck veins protruded as he entered his third monologue of the hour. He had been pushing against her suggestions every meeting but this was the first time he had proposed something.

It was quickly shut down, his suggestion to go after roamers to boost their name was over before it could begin. Her father had reminded him that they were not pursuing strategies of that sort and Killian had lost all composure. Her father hadn't even been rude, or mean. It was gentle, more so than he had been with her as of late. She had disengaged at the beginning of his fit, tuned in for a bit just to reply, and then promptly disengaged again.

She wished it could stay that way but she had heard Jona's name and snapped back into the conversation.

"What did you say?" Ava interrupted and the attention from both men in the room was on her. She tilted her head, "I wasn't paying attention. It got redundant. Can you repeat the last thing you said?"

Killian narrowed his eyes, "I said what do you know about politics if you couldn't even secure a political alliance with Jona Ammyrett? You scared him off instead. He left court faster than a hound going after its prey."

Ava shook her head with a small sigh, "Killian, marrying a third son with nothing to show for his reputation except a whorehouse in Niveal is not an advantageous union for this house."

"Then why were you allowing him to court you?"

"Because our mother wished it. And she wished it because she is easily influenced by the women at court and they all pine over him so she thought he was my perfect match," Ava quickly lied and smoothed her dress out, "why have you not sought a match this entire season? Isn't it also your duty to seek out a political match?"

Killian scoffed, "I can have who I want."

"I'm sure the inheritance you are set to gain accounts for any interest you have received," Ava smirked a bit.

"Enough, both of you," her father scolded and she looked over at him.

"Sorry," Ava nodded, "Can I present my next proposal? I should not have allowed Killian to go first. We could have saved a lot of time."

"Your last idea is still in the works. It was only recently presented to the public. We are going to halt any plans until at least the end of this cycle. We cannot exert too much pressure," he shook his head and stood up, "I am late to meet with your mother in the gardens. See you both at dinner tonight. Both of you, enjoy yourselves for the time being. Killian, not too much"

They both fell silent as they watched their father leave the room

"I would have had you killed cycles ago if you didn't have a thousand eyes on you," Killian threatened.

"No one cares enough about you to have you followed so it would be so easy to have you turn up dead but that is beneath me," she taunted and stood up, "even if you were to kill me, it wouldn't change anything. Father will still think you are a half-wit."

"And you are a renouncer cunt," Killian stepped towards her, "you think I don't see the way you and that snitch look at each other? You don't think I've heard the rumors about what goes on in that ship you were on?"

Ava didn't let her thoughts catch up to her impulses she took a few steps forward, hastily closing the distance between them, and looked up at her brother with bared teeth and clenched fists, "You can just admit that you are jealous I've fucked more women than you."

Killian look like he had been slapped, his body flinched back at first but his shock turned to anger as he reached forward and grabbed her by the hair– her real hair. She reached up to pry him off but she was jostled and pulled over to her father's desk where Killian slammed her head on the surface of it, holding her in place. She let out an involuntary yell as she made contact with the wood and she had no visuals of him or how to counter whatever came next.

"I knew that you were a degenerate like the rest of them, you certainly have always looked the part," he kept her head down and Ava couldn't fight, there was only panic and a desire to be far away from it all. He bent down so she could hear him clearly, "challenge me in front of my father again, and I'll let him know just what you are."

Dread filled her chest as she was let go. Footsteps echoed throughout the chamber as Killian left the room and she couldn't bring herself to stand up. Instead, she sunk to her knees and held the back of her hair where she could still feel a hand pulling at it. Ava closed her eyes and let the weight of what she had just done settle over her. She couldn't believe she had given in so easily. After so long of holding it in, she caved. Now, he had something over her.

Maybe she would have to kill him.

She put her head in her hands and took a moment to recover. Her brother made up lies about her all the time. It had happened multiple times in the past cycle alone. He could say what he wanted and it would just seem like another fib meant to demote Ava from whatever power she held. Her heartbeat slowed down a bit as she got a wider perspective. Still, it wasn't ideal. Even the idea of that in her father's head could be dangerous. He staked his whole last reclassification venture on ridding Northern Elox of criminals and renouncers. She didn't need a forbidden book to know that, she had lived through the praises that had yet to cease over his victory.

Ava stood up off the ground but wasn't ready to leave. She looked around the room and caught sight of the large windows on either side of her father's desk. Fresh air without someone hovering behind her was what she needed. She picked the left one, walking over and unlatching it with ease. She opened it and a temperate air wafted in carrying the slightest hint of the newly imported shrubs and flowers from the garden. Even though it wasn't the easiest to manage, she climbed over the windowsill and sat in between the room and the outside.

She could climb down and make a run for it with nothing but the expensive things she could steal from her father's office. But it wasn't a thought she entertained. Ideas of running had become less frequent as her suns became packed with duties. Still, the odd urge to take the nearest open path and bolt entered her mind sometimes. It made her sad when the thought crossed, but she couldn't help it. The instinct to go was almost out of habit.

Ava had always thought that she had just made a run for it because circumstances aligned and she was able to run at the right time. But that was not the whole story. She noticed that it was safe to run because she had been awaiting the right moment all her life. She climbed the estate walls, snuck through the gardens, slipped past her guards; anything if it meant running as fast as she could. She never knew where, a part of her always knew she would get caught, but she always was seeking out the opportunity to flee.

The one time she managed it, she hadn't even understood what it meant. She just knew she needed to get out and she ran as fast as she could in the opposite direction of home. When she left, the fog that had always clouded her mind lifted and she felt real for the first time in her life. It was as if the sun had risen over a dark world for the first time. At that moment though, she was back in a dark world but she knew what sunlight looked like. She was back in her old box but the fog was no longer there. She could identify her misery and she knew life did not have to be like that.

Yet, she was staying. Choosing to stay and the feeling of being torn between the estate and the outside world brought tears to her eyes and she could do little to stop it. It was a while of letting her sorrow wash over her, her shock from Killian grabbing her like that was eased by her crying too. It felt like a dam had broken after a while of holding it in. The first moment she really had to breathe in so long.

And then, she composed herself. She took deep, even breaths until her tears came to a stop and she could go a minute without crying. Eventually, she pulled herself from the window and closed it back up. Scanning the room, she saw nothing left behind and proceeded to make her way out. She had hoped her moment of quiet would last but it didn't.

Viv was waiting for her in the hallway. Ava saw her and immediately rolled her eyes.

"Looks like the pressure is getting to you, princess," Viv chuckled, "your face gets really red when you cry."

"I want you to choke," Ava picked up her skirt and began to walk off, "you can go get Arnelo. I much prefer him."

Viv followed, "I see you have fallen back on your old habit of being insufferable."

"You seem to be happy to be under my father's command," Ava said without stopping, "so leave me alone and go work for him. Be happy with the power he can give you. You don't need me anymore."

Viv grabbed her arm and Ava reacted the same way she had done before. She swiftly turned around and tried to deliver a slap across Viv's face. Viv was expecting it that time and Ava's wrist was gripped as her movement came to a sudden halt. She frowned, her brow furrowing and she tried to tug her hand away but it didn't serve to let her go.

She huffed, "Let me go."

"Stop trying to physically harm me," Viv scolded.

"Stop grabbing me like I'm some lackey you can just boss around," Ava challenged.

"I want to make it clear that I have always worked for your father. That is my job. I came to this estate because of his request to work under him. You knew this. Just because he is now utilizing me for more than being on your ass all sun, doesn't mean I have stopped working with you. I have duties, same as you," Viv kept her hold on Ava firm even though Ava tried to tug free every few seconds, "in fact, I have something you wanted. That was my whole purpose with seeking you out."

"You know more about Theo?"

"She's sending ships in and out of Niveal but she's still stationed there," Viv shook her head, "that is not what I wanted to tell you. Before I do, promise me you will hear me out before reacting?"

"Let me go and I won't react until appropriate," Ava nodded, "what is reacting to you?"

"Running. Involving people in this information. Anything that isn't staying here and listening."

"Fine. I won't do any of that."

Viv let Ava go.

"O's dad is alive," Viv explained and pulled a paper out of her coat and handed it to Ava.

Ava snatched it and unfolded it, scanning the page. It was a copy of a prison's ledger. The description of the prisoner, his offense, where he came from, and the length of time he'd been in prison all matched. There was no name but that was common with ledgers, she had learned on her time on the ship. Prisoners often refused to give their names and since they weren't in the vault, no one could know what it really was.

"How long ago was this ledger updated?"

"Right before my contact made this copy and sent it to me," Viv said, "they also told me that he's being kept on the ground floor."

Ava tilted her head, "I'm sorry. I don't understand what that means. He's not in the cells down below?"

"Some prisons have a decent infirmary set up with space for a few dozen people. In bigger cities, like Drokian, some old healers that still want to help out offer their services to look after some of the prisoners that would be better off in the infirmary," Viv filled her in.

"Why is he in the infirmary?" Ava flipped the paper, there was nothing. It wasn't mentioned anywhere, "is he sick?"

"I think physically he is fine," Viv said but Ava could tell she was hesitating to say anything else.

She didn't need to though, Oceane had expressed to her that she was worried about her father's mind. Even if he survived the fire and prison, Oceane was afraid his state might have worsened since the last she saw him.

"Is that all?" Ava took a step back, "Can I go now?"

"Oceane is in town helping the kitchen staff with some shopping for tomorrow's dinner. Your father will be attending court," Viv explained, "you have a meeting with your father after lunch. Think through this information and propose a plan for him to fix it."

"I can't tell him any of this," she shook her head, "and he just told me to stop proposing shit. Can't even say anything to him, I won't be meeting with him after lunch after all."

"You get my advice because you are working with me now," Viv shrugged, "take it or don't. But if you want to get O's father out with the least amount of suspicion, you can just propose that all prisoners in infirmaries be let out to their families to care for them."

"It won't work," Ava shook her head.

"Then he stays there for the time being," Viv shrugged, then looked past Ava's shoulder, "right on time."

Ava turned to see Arnelo headed toward them.

"You were supposed to bring her straight to her room. It has been an hour," Arnelo said as he came down the hall, his features clouded over with anger.

His patience had worn thin with Vivexa over the past cycles. Viv's acidity had targeted Arnelo and he was more than happy to reciprocate; which was unlike him. Ava ceased to comment on the matter, they could hash it out themselves.

"Take it easy, big guy," Viv put her hand on Ava's back and pushed her forward, "wasn't my fault. She just came out of the room."

"Lady Ava," he approached them, "did she make you cry?"

"No," Ava smiled a bit and put her hand on his arm when he was close enough, "this was not her doing. Let's go to my chambers. I have to eat lunch with the court and I am not ready yet."

Arnelo nodded and eyed Viv for a second before turning around and leading Ava toward her chambers.

—--

Ava was being led down the hallway by Viv, it was a wing of the estate she rarely frequented. The guests stayed in one part, and she and her family stayed in a separate wing. Court was held throughout the estate but the area they were in was mainly storage rooms and halls filled with things that would only get pulled out for themed nights at court or special ceremonies.

After lunch, she had found her father in his study; much different than his office. It was not a place he had often allowed visitors but when she sought him out, he granted her entry. Ivon was pushed out of the room and she sat to have a candid conversation with him. She framed it as a way to understand what he would allow and not allow so she could begin to plant the seeds for more reform like she did the first time.

He seemed to appreciate that approach and was much more receptive without the blemish of fighting between her and Killian in the conversation. She had floated a few ideas, one of them being what Viv had advised her on. Greater liberties for women were met with a tepid yet leaning warm reception. Providing ways for people to gain access to better education and increasing literacy was met with controlled enthusiasm. Letting out prisoners that were unwell and in infirmaries was rejected; outright shut down. Keeping crime low and criminals in prison was a motivator for people to feel happy toward the current people in power.

That was his reasoning and while she heavily disagreed, she understood that it was not something she would get him to bend on. She had left the study more frustrated than she had been that morning and she had found Viv then demanded havcera to calm her down. It was also so the conversation with Oceane could be easier and Oceane would maybe get some comfort from it. Viv had agreed to procure the drugs for her and took her on a journey through the estate. Eventually, Viv came to a stop outside of a door and then turned around.

"Stay here," Viv said and slipped into the room but not before grabbing one of the lights that lit the halls.

But Ava didn't hear a lock or anything to indicate that she couldn't walk in; so, she did.

It wasn't what she expected. The room was dimly lit with the flame from the outside and it shed light on a plain room. There were stacked chairs pushed into the corners and in the middle, there was a mattress with simple bedding on it, a few candles, a bag, and some books stacked next to the mattress.

"Is this your room?" Ava said and Viv turned around.

"You don't fucking listen," Viv shook her head and bent down to reach into the bag.

"I thought you had a room in the guest wing," Ava looked around but there was nothing more that met her eye, "you sleep here?"

"I do have a room in the guest wing and that is where I sleep," Viv retrieved something and handed it to her, a small bag, "none of this is mine. I just have a good nose for havcera and could sniff it out."

"I have seen you with that red book before," Ava pointed at it, "why do you sleep here and not in your actual room?"

"I do sleep in my actual room," Viv lied as she stared straight at Ava with a challenging raise of a brow.

"You are so infuriating. I know where you sleep now, it's not a big deal."

"It is a big deal. So much, in fact, I will be changing locations as soon as I escort you back to your room," Viv said and started to push her out of the door as she slipped something into Ava's hand.

"I can walk myself back. It's one wing over," Ava said and turned around and before Viv could object she began to beg, "please? Please. This isn't a trap or a joke. I haven't been able to just walk somewhere on my own in half a length. Let me."

Viv was about to answer and Ava interrupted again.

"Please."

Viv stood in the doorway and narrowed her eyebrows, "I have to switch rooms so I suppose you can make your way ahead of me and I will come to check on you in a half hour. If you aren't in your room, I am sounding alarm bells."

"I will be there with Oceane so don't interrupt, just listen outside the door and if you hear our voices, then you know," Ava ordered then began to walk away before Viv could change her mind.

As promised, she didn't run. She did, however, take her time in getting to her room. She took advantage of the feeling of being alone, without a hovering figure guiding her from place to place. The only time she had been alone was when she was running away from someone. Oceane had gotten back from escorting the kitchen staff and helping them in the city so Ava had to hurry up. She stopped her self-tour around the estate to rush to her chambers.

They had standing plans and Ava had been waiting all day for the moment those plans arrived so she could tell Oceane some good news. It was a shit situation, her father was in a prison, mentally unwell, and an ocean away but at least he was alive. Hopefully, that would bring some comfort and solace. That, and Ava had a plan for how to get to him.

Well, she had a plan for how to get to Theo, who could get to Oceane's father. And it wasn't them necessarily getting to Theo, it would be a letter– but at the end of it, they would be able to help Oceane's father. Or so she hoped. Oceane could have a different idea.

When she opened her door, Oceane was in Ava's bed already bundled up even though it was warm out. Ava smiled to herself and closed her door walking over to the bed and climbing in.
"I need help getting undressed," Ava said.

Oceane shrugged and the blanket moved, "I'm off duty. You can find another chambermaid."

Ava laughed and stood back up, doing her best to shimmy and shake out of the gown she was in. She looked back at the bed, "I am struggling. Are you not going to come to my aid?"

Oceane pouted and shook her head, "I had a hard aftermorning."

Ava finally stepped out of her dress and then climbed into bed but not before grabbing the satchel Viv had given her, "Are you alright?"

Oceane shrugged a bit, "It's easier to be here when you don't know what you are missing... Guess going out into the city so often and being able to see others be able to be so free brought up a lot of things I had been repressing."

"I'm sorry I wasn't more subtle about things. I could have avoided making a mess and being forced to alert my father of you being here," Ava consoled, "I could've gotten you back to Theo."

"I don't know how much longer I could've held out in there," Oceane gave her a small reassuring smile, "this jail is better than the real one and now I've got you."

"Still, I'm sorry you are stuck in here with me," Ava offered then held out the satchel, "if you are having a hard sun, maybe this will cheer you up."

"You spoil me, my lady," Oceane laughed and finally freed herself from the blanket, reaching over and taking the bag then smelling it, "smells like good havcera."

"I want dragon's breath but Viv is holding out," Ava said and she motioned at Oceane, "did you bring it?"

"Oh! Aye," she reached under Ava's pillow and pulled out a pipe, "I miss when doing drugs was easy."

"I don't know, the difficulty makes it more fun," Ava laughed and took the bag back then began to stuff the pipe, "I have something to talk to you about."

"Are you finally going to address the depressive mood you have been in for cycles?" Oceane asked and reached for the candle then lit the pipe, taking the first hit.

"What?" Ava laughed, "I am not in a mood."

"You know how Xyra has her breakdowns?"

"No," Ava shook her head, "I didn't know that happened to her."

"Aye, I witnessed it once. She gets really bad so I can't compare directly but what happened to her is happening to you," Oceane shrugged.

"I'm not different than before."

"You are a lot sadder. You don't have a pep in your questions and a somehow permanent smile. You are still you, and you are still every bit as amazing as I have always thought you were but something is wrong," Oceane scooted closer to Ava, "I'm taking it you didn't want to talk about that?"

Ava shook her head. Oceane wasn't wrong but that is just how Ava acted and felt her whole life. It was only recently that she had been made aware that not everyone had felt the eternal misery she once had felt and the life could be different. But with an old environment seemed to come an old habit. There were more important issues to address though.

"I have important news. To be honest, I should have led with this but I have no idea how to say it."

"You are worrying me," Oceane shifted onto her knees.

"It's good," Ava got up and reached down into her dress where she had stashed the paper then handed it to her friend, "your father is alive, in Drokian prison."

Oceane's eyes scanned the paper but she was slow to respond. It took a few seconds to understand what the paper was saying and a bit longer to process. After she had taken a moment, she met Ava's gaze.

"How long ago was this?"

"Arrived by dove this morning. Not even ten suns ago, this was accurate information," Ava explained.

"They have him on the ground floor."

"They do."

"I told you he was getting bad," Oceane's frown deepened and she held back heavy tears, "he's not good with confined spaces or not seeing the outside. He's just going to keep getting worse."

"I think we can send the letter to Theo... If we focus on that as our goal, I think we are at a point where we can find a way to do it. It might take time but before too long, we can have a letter to her letting her know the details of your father's imprisonment and that we are here and you are safe," Ava said and reached forward to hand Oceane the pipe and put her hand on her thigh, "she can write to your brother and sister and let them know what is happening."

"What if she doesn't answer?"

"She has no resentment or grudge against you. You haven't done her wrong. I am sure she would be elated to know you are alive and well. I also know she would probably want to rectify what happened with your father," Ava shook her head with a sad smile, "just because she turned her back on me doesn't mean she will do it to you too."

"How would we get this letter to her? We've thought of this route and haven't taken it before," Oceane said.

"I have to think for a bit," Ava laid down and Oceane followed, smoke entered Ava's line of sight then she was handed the pipe, "you don't seem to have that much to say about the matter."

"Don't really know what I can say," Oceane peeked over at Ava with a slight frown, "he wanted to die and be with my mother and I'm wondering now if that was the better outcome for him. Not because I wanted that, but because I know what a few cycles in prison can do and he's done longer and at an older age."

"I'm sorry," Ava said.

"Don't be," Oceane smiled a bit and looked away, "I've got no one to blame but myself. My actions led to this."

"The Center's action led to this," Ava reminded, "we're here to tear it all down, remember?"

"I never forget," Oceane took a deep breath and then held her hand out for the pipe.

They laid in silence for a while, Oceane in her head and Ava in hers.

"It doesn't have to be a letter, you know. I could find a way to send you too."

"I can't. Not without everything blowing back on you. Plus, I don't want to leave you," Oceane reminded her, "now, don't mention it again."

They stopped speaking, once again and Ava closed her eyes and let thoughts of a letter being sent to Theo float through her head.

"We just have to figure out a person that people in the skrims trust for more underground business, but we can't ask Viv or it will tip her off," Ava broke the silence, "We can give that person the letter and ask them to be its escort to another city then send it from there."

"That isn't a bad idea except you are always being watched, especially when you are in the skrims," Oceane turned on her side to face Ava.

"I will distract Viv and you can go deliver the letter," Ava turned as well and they were facing each other, "since you can't just slip out of the estate alone, Arnelo can escort you into town. And then, you will slip back in like nothing ever happened."

Oceane shrugged, "It is worth a shot. I don't think any of it will work but Viv likes me too much to turn me into your father so I think it's a risk worth taking. Arnelo is going to be a hard sell."

"I know he will do it. I have just the thing to say."

"I trust you," Oceane pushed Ava's leg a bit, "thank you."

"At the risk of alienating yourself from your crew, you came to see me every sun while I was locked up in Corinspe. You had every right to turn away and not care but you didn't," Ava put her hand out between them and Oceane grabbed it with a smile, "The world owes you more than you have received and I will make sure it pays its debt. If you need anything, ever, just ask me. Please. If I can't make it happen, I will do my hardest to try."

"I love you, Red," Oceane brought her free hand to wipe away a small tear at the edge of her eye, "who would've thought I would be sharing a bed with a Vaith."

"If only you weren't a koldi, you could take so much advantage of my position in society," she teased.

"I take plenty of advantage as it is," Oceane sat up, "your nightstand is filled with pastries from the kitchen in case I get hungry later."

Ava sat up and leaned over Oceane, opening the drawer to find more than just pastries neatly lined in the drawer. She shut it, took the pipe as she sat back down, and lit it again in hopes to garner an appetite to help Oceane finish off her hoarded snacks.